Linda’s SoCS prompt this Saturday…
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “-est.” Base your post on any word you can add the suffix “est” to. Enjoy!
The Best!
Last night I went out for a meal with my colleagues. It wasn’t just a general get together, but a celebration of a fantastic achievement for our school, staff and pupils.
I don’t know if you recall, but just before the summer holidays, we were winding down,t hen got the stressful call regarding Ofsted coming to visit. Ofsted, for those of you that don’t know, is the inspecting body that the government has in place, who spring inspections of schools and then gives them gradings and constructive advice.
Two inspections ago we were rated Good. It would be nigh on impossible for us to ever get Outstanding, with the results we get. This is not because of the lack of effort on the part of the teachers and children, but the demographic of our kids is such that there are many from disadvantaged backrounds, or EAL (second language) children, so they are always wonderful,b ut not ‘quite there’.
Three years ago we got another ‘call’ and they came. This inspection was triggered by data regarding the then current Year 6 children, who were a very tough year group with many issues. We had new management in place, lots of new strategies, and a school full of willing and able staff and pupils. But we got Requires Improvement.
It wasn’t the worst. We didn’t get Special Measures, where the head gets removed, and the school could get taken over by an academy, changing the structure forever.
But it was disheartening, nevertheless. Everyone works hard but it wasn’t enough. We spent the last year and a half with various officials visiting constantly, and much restructuring happening, policies changing, and shuffle arounds of staff. And they came…
And we got GOOD again!
It was the greatest feeling, as many schools in our area have been receiving the lower two gradings recently, but we got GOOD!
We even had special chocolates!!
So yesterday, the head teacher arranged an evening out of music and food to celebrate all the hard work of the whole team, to get us to this level!
And, maybe I am biased, but honestly, I really do think we are the BEST!
But I Smile Anyway... 
Oct 01, 2016 @ 14:01:35
congrats you guys! Well done to you all! xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oct 01, 2016 @ 14:29:03
Thank you! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 22, 2016 @ 15:21:00
Is it u ritu?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 22, 2016 @ 15:53:59
It is me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 22, 2016 @ 19:53:56
U look so adorable
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 22, 2016 @ 20:10:07
Aw thank you !
LikeLike
Sep 19, 2016 @ 12:35:03
Congratulations to everyone on your collective achievement.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 19, 2016 @ 12:53:37
Many thanks!!!
LikeLike
Sep 19, 2016 @ 05:50:43
Congratulations 🙂 I think the effort taken to maintain this level is outstanding – Cheers to you guys!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 19, 2016 @ 06:56:50
Thank you Prajakta!!! It is a hard extra, on top of the work you have to do as a teacher anyway. But worth it for the result!
LikeLike
Sep 17, 2016 @ 23:35:32
Congratulations to you and your colleagues Sister !!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 18, 2016 @ 00:13:25
Thank you Brother! It was a hard slog… and a long wait for the outcome results, but soooo worth it!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 18, 2016 @ 00:16:14
Yes a worthy honor for everyone’s hard efforts!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 18, 2016 @ 00:17:24
Definitely!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 18, 2016 @ 00:22:54
✋😊
LikeLike
Sep 17, 2016 @ 20:13:43
Fabulous news ~ well done.
x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 17, 2016 @ 21:09:39
Thank you 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 17, 2016 @ 21:49:00
You’re very welcome.
x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 17, 2016 @ 19:46:19
LikeLike
Sep 17, 2016 @ 17:28:30
Congrats and you deserve it very much! Good teachers make difference, so keep up the good work 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 17, 2016 @ 21:07:59
Thank you Anna!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 18, 2016 @ 19:45:53
My mother was a teacher so I know how much hard work for too little salary you put in. But she still meets old students sometimes and they remember she was a good teacher and thank her. So you do much good work 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 18, 2016 @ 20:00:35
It’s a blessing to meet old students ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 18, 2016 @ 20:13:36
She says so too, so I believe you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 18, 2016 @ 20:43:24
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 17, 2016 @ 16:44:42
I am so happy for you and your colleagues! I know that you are giving your best every day. The best must not match a particular result but it should be acknowledged where they were and where they are now due to your support and care!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sep 17, 2016 @ 21:07:40
Thank.you sis! I’m so proud of us all!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 17, 2016 @ 21:08:56
You have all reasons to be… you all have 😊💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sep 17, 2016 @ 13:37:09
Many congratulations on what is, in reality an outstanding result. OfSted inspections are not a level playing field – demographics and challenging home lives playing inevitably and often catastrophically into pupil’s school day mean the Good is not simply good enough for a school such as yours, it’s down right bluddy awesome 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sep 17, 2016 @ 13:46:41
Thank you so much!!! Yup… I think we’re pretty fan-bloody-tastic too!!! 😁
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sep 17, 2016 @ 11:21:32
Congratulations Ritu, hard work getting back your rating but I bet it was worth the effort. Keep teaching the children and showing them how to become great people and you will remain the BEST xoxo
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sep 17, 2016 @ 11:28:17
Thank you so much Dave! I’ll always put my best into my teaching 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sep 17, 2016 @ 12:00:30
Teachers are either in it for the joy or the money, great teachers are those, like yourself, who get enjoyment from the knowledge transferred to the next generation. You should never be a teacher just for the money, I know I’ve been taught by so many who were.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sep 17, 2016 @ 12:05:02
To be honest… if they’re in it for the money they’re in the wrong job! It doesn’t pay well monetarily but the satisfaction you get from watching a child progress… well that’s priceless 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sep 17, 2016 @ 14:41:00
I love the way a child will look at you as though you are crazy then the penny drops and the change is amazing. I’m not a teacher but think that everyday must be magical being able to get that reaction from the children you reach.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sep 17, 2016 @ 14:43:44
Oh it totally is Dave! To know you may have changed someone’s life positively … no better feeling 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sep 17, 2016 @ 10:50:48
Congratulations, Ritu. Was wondering where you were the last few days- missed your posts. Now I know what you were doing.:)
Great work and I know that you are the best school there.
Susie
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sep 17, 2016 @ 11:27:15
Thanks Susie!!! The beginning get of term is always a bit manic but once I’m back in the swing of things I’ll be on here with a vengeance!!! 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people